INCREASES in free early learning and childcare have been set out in legislation published by the Scottish Government.

The Children and Young People (Scotland) Bill includes a statutory entitlement to 600 hours of funded early learning and childcare for three and four-year-olds and looked-after two-year-olds.

The legislation, if passed, will see the SNP deliver on a pledge announced at its spring conference in March last year.

The Bill also makes provisions for a named person, such as a health worker, for every child and young person from birth to safeguard and support their well-being. Meanwhile kinship carers will be given greater levels of support from councils.

It was welcomed by Cosla, although the organisation warned that the legislation has "significant financial implications" for local authorities.

Minister for Children and Young People Aileen Campbell also announced an extra £10 million of funding to be shared between 45 organisations working closely with children, young people and families.

Ms Campbell said: "This Bill will improve levels of care and support to children and families across the country through an increase in free and more flexible early learning and childcare from 475 to 600 hours, as well as more joined-up services to support the well-being of all children and young people through a named person.

"Further measures will also add stability to kinship care arrangements. The level of investment the Scottish Government is putting into ensuring the Bill works for Scotland's young people also demonstrates our commitment to investing in our children from the very start.

"We must also recognise the important role of the third sector in reaching out to families and children in inventive and inspirational ways, which is why I am providing an additional £10 million on top of the Third Sector Early Intervention Fund for groups working directly with children, young people and their families."

Commenting on the Bill, Douglas Chapman, Cosla's education, children and young people spokesman, said the organisation has reached agreement with the Government on how the 600 hours will be implemented and funded.

Total costs to local government of implementing all aspects of the legislation in future years is expected run to approximately £100 million per year, he said.

"For these reasons the Bill deserves to be scrutinised closely by the Parliament over the coming months, and its financial assumptions carefully tested," he said.

"Implementation of the Bill will take several years, possibly stretching even beyond the end of this current Parliament in 2016. It is important that Parliament considers not just the immediate impact of the legislation in 2014 but its impact in years to come.

"No Scottish Government of any political persuasion can know how much money will be available in future spending reviews but once the Bill is passed, local government will legally have new duties to deliver regardless of the cash available.

"So while we welcome the Government's commitment to full funding for the Bill, we will nonetheless take a strong line with this and any future Government that new duties have to be matched with an appropriate level of additional resource."